Gabriela solon questions P10-B Growth Equity Fund in 2022 budget

Gabriela party-list Representative Arlene Brosas has questioned the over P10 billion Growth Equity Fund included in the proposed 2022 budget, claiming it could be a "new pork barrel variant."

In a statement on Sunday, Brosas pointed out that under the Local Government Support Fund, P10 billion is allocated to assist lagging local government units in the enforcement of the Mandanas ruling. However, she said it is not indicated which agency will identify the LGUs needing the assistance.

"This P10 billion Growth Equity Funds looks more like Greater Election Fund, as it can be arbitrarily used to ensure votes for Duterte and his top bets in the 2022 elections. Bagong pork barrel variant ito," Brosas said.

"Hindi nakalista sa panukalang budget kung anu-anong LGUs ang makikinabang sa Growth Equity Fund na ito. Lump sum ito na bukas sa abuso at pamumulitika kung hindi tutukuyin ang LGUs," she added.

(It is not indicated what LGUs will benefit from this Growth Equity Fund. This is a lump sum that is open to abuse if the localities will not be determined.)

'Guni-guni lang 'yan'

Sought for comment, presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said Brosas' claim is just "hallucination."

"Guni-guni lang po iyan," he said in a press briefing as he assured  that the funds will go to fourth-, fifth- and sixth-class municipalities.

"Kung hindi po iyan specified, at least masasabi 'yan sa Kongreso that will go to the fourth-, fifth- and sixth-class municipalities at alam naman po natin kung sinu-sino itong mga munisipyong ito," he added.

The Mandanas ruling expands the LGUs' internal revenue allotment share to all national taxes including those collected by the Bureau of Customs.

It is stated in the 2022 National Expenditure Program that the P10 billion "shall be used as financial assistance to the identified poor, disadvantaged, and lagging LGUs for the implementation of various infrastructure projects to gradually enable the full and efficient implementation of the functions and services devolved to the local government."

It notes that the release of funds shall be subject to the guidelines to be issued by the Development Budget Coordination Committee (DBCC), pursuant to Executive Order No. 138 and its implementing rules and regulations.

President Rodrigo Duterte's Executive Order 138 establishes a Committee on Devolution (ComDev) for the implementation of the July 2018 Supreme Court ruling widening the base of the LGUs’ share in taxes.

Under EO 38, ComDev will propose to Congress the GEF “to address issues on marginalization, unequal development, high poverty incidence and disparities in net fiscal capacities of LGUs.”

Brosas said the P10 billion should be realigned to programs that will directly help the unfortunate sector.

"Even if fifth and sixth class municipalities will not benefit from the Mandanas ruling, national government agencies already have programs in support for lagging LGUs," she said. —Anna Felicia Bajo and Llanesca T. Panti/KBK, GMA News